Don’s Story

Site created on March 7, 2018

Last weekend, dad began to feel nauseous and his heart rate went up significantly. He thought it was just a “bug,” so he decided to give his body a chance to fight it off. Unfortunately, neither of his symptoms improved.

By Tuesday morning, he had lost a lot of color, was exhausted, and had shortness of breath. So he and mom made a trip to the doctor, who referred him to North Memorial Health Hospital, where he was admitted to the ER. Doctors did some tests and determined that his heart rate was not only high, but also irregular. They began to medications to reduce his high heart rate. Unfortunately, when his heart rate came down, his blood pressure dropped, and he became very faint. His nausea and shortness of breath also increased, creating a lot of anxiety for him.

Doctors tried various medicines and an oxygen mask to help with his symptoms, but his discomfort and anxiety did not go down. After being transferred to the ICU, he became a little confused, which indicated that he wasn’t getting enough oxygen. So the medical team decided to intubate him, which meant sedating him and inserting a breathing tube.

Later that night, dad’s blood pressure continued to struggle, and his kidneys stopped functioning properly. The doctor’s believed that dad’s heart was likely exhausted from working so hard for multiple days. And they explained that when the heart can’t provide sufficient blood flow to the body, it prioritizes the brain and other organs, in this case the kidney, begin to shut down temporarily. They decided to insert a balloon pump to assist his heart with pumping. One doctor described the pump as a crutch for the heart. The idea was to give the heart time to heal and also provide more blood flow to his organs.

During the surgery, the doctor’s found no sign of a major heart attack or blockage. And by that time they had done enough tests to believe that the problem wasn't related to major blood clots or some of the more common causes of heart failure, like alcoholism. The running theory became a viral infection that attacked his heart.

Following the surgery, dad’s blood pressure began to stabilize. And he remained anesthetized.

By Wednesday morning, dad’s need for blood pressure medication dropped significantly. We went from three different medications, down to one. The doctors put together a game plan to shock dad’s heart back into a good rhythm and begin dialysis to reactivate his kidneys. The shock treatment worked primarily. Dad’s heart rate became rhythmic, with a few extra beats. And his blood pressure responded.

By the time the medical team started dialysis, dad’s kidneys were functioning at around 15 or 20%. The team decided to keep him on continuous dialysis to clean the acid out of his blood. After a few hours, the dialysis filter clotted because of the size of the molecules in his blood. In order to change the filter, they had to take him off dialysis temporarily. During this time, his blood pressure went down again. So they increased his medications again.

Later that evening, dad’s labs indicated he wasn’t getting enough oxygen in his blood. So the team made an adjustment to his ventilator. They also restarted his dialysis. He remained stable from that point on. But the primary doctor made precautionary arrangements with a colleague at the U of M. If dad’s condition didn’t improve or got worse, the U of M could provide a higher level of care that wouldn’t have the same risks.

On Thursday morning, dad continued to need the slightly elevated amount of blood pressure medication. And although dialysis was working to clean his blood, his kidneys weren’t reactivating enough. The doctor recommended that dad go to the U of M, where he believed the doctors would do an ECMO, which is a technique for providing prolonged cardiac and respiratory life support.

Dad's transport went well. He was admitted with multi-system organ failure and successfully put on ECMO. He'll remain on it and dialysis for some time, while his heart and other organs have an opportunity to rest and recuperate.

Please keep dad in your prayers. He's a tough guy, and we're confident that he'll be  coming home. But's fighting a tough battle, and he needs God on his side.

We'll try to keep this site updated with regular journal entries.

Newest Update

Afternoon Update

Journal entry by Peter Rademacher —

Dad's been home for a little over a month now. While he still has a long way to go, he's making tremendous progress.

His heart is now operating with a 41% ejection fraction, which is still below average, but more than enough for him to live with. His heart has enlarged a little, but the doctors think they can manage that with medication.

His kidneys are now operating at about 45%, which is also enough for him to live with. So the medical team removed his dialysis port. Hopefully, he won't need dialysis ever again.

Physically, dad is doing very well. He lost quite a bit of muscle mass while he was in the hospital. But his motor skills are very much intact, and he's staying relatively active. The doctors think he doesn't need occupational therapy any longer.

Dad continues to attend speech therapy. The doctors are also referring him to the Sister Kenny Institute, which will provide him with various rehabilitative services to help him strengthen his cognitive function.

We're still getting use to a new normal. Dad has many appointments throughout any given week, and mom handles all the driving for those. She also manages his medication regimen, and keeps him on track with his new, heart-healthy diet. The family is working to prepare their house for sale, so they can find a more hospitable house for dad. And dad still has a little ways to go before he can revisit some of the activities that brought him joy.

One thing hasn't changed: dad. He still has his personality, sense of humor, smile, and love for family, games, and the outdoors. The family is so happy to have him back, and we'll keep supporting him through his journey to complete recovery.

We may update this page from time to time. But in case we don't, we want to thank you all for the love and support that you've shown dad and us. This experience was truly difficult, but we're all so happy for how it's ending. You all contributed to it, and we could not be more grateful. Thank you!
Read More of the journal titled "Afternoon Update"
Patients and caregivers love hearing from you; add a comment to show your support.
Help Don Stay Connected to Family and Friends

A $25 donation to CaringBridge powers a site like Don's for two weeks. Will you make a gift to help ensure that this site stays online for them and for you?

Leave a comment of support for Don

Did you know? A quick comment, no matter the situation (positive or negative), can boost morale by 28.2%.

Comments Hide comments

Load more comments
Read More Journal Entries

Show Your Support

See the Ways to Help page to get even more involved.

Personal Fundraiser
Support Links
Helpful Requests
Go to Ways to Help
SVG_Icons_Back_To_Top
Top